Thanks for all your comments the other day! I'm so sorry I couldn't
respond to them. It was a CRAZY work and doctor week and I read them but
I was simply too tired to form sentences when I got home each day from
the doctor appts.

Short version: I am seeing an Endocrinologist on Friday the 25th at 1pm
to find out what's going on with my thyroid - probably related to
underlying adrenal insufficiency, disease, or failure of some sort.
There may also be some other hormonal issues that may or may not be
related.

Details:
I decided not to mess around with looking for a new doctor, and called
the one who took over for my much-beloved Dr Astrid. I've seen Dr.
Jason, the new guy who took over her patients, once before this. He is
young, fresh off his residency, and kind, but I wasn't sure about him.
But rather than trying to find someone new on no notice, I decided to
see him again.

Tuesday afternoon Tish and I both left work a bit early and went to see
Dr Jason. First thing I like is his Medical Assistant. She was concerned
and thorough, and wasn't freaked out when I knew a lot about my disease
and about medicine in general. Many times that's seen as a "red flag" of
hypochondria, and I did say something to her about how I grew up in a
medical family and with immunosuppression I simply have to know. She
wasn't the least bit ruffled and said it was smart to know.

Dr. Jason listened to everything going on, and very carefully read the
typewritten list of symptoms/concerns I had brought him. He asked if he
could keep it for my records and to write notes on as he thought of
things. I've never had a doctor do more than scan a list and hand it
back to me. At the end I'd written that I have an upcoming course I have
to teach at work and with the current fatigue there is no way I can
stand in front of a classroom and teach all day. Also that I've been
missing average of 1.5 days a week of work which is NOT ok with me or
with my boss, and that my partner is becoming my caretaker, and that's
not fair to our relationship. He was concerned about those statements as
much as the symptoms themselves, and told me that he would keep looking
until he found a way to get me feeling better. We talked about symptoms
throughout my life that I'd never even thought of as abnormal til he
asked about them.

I am fighting some sort of low grade infection, but that may or may not
be secondary. The main thing is my adrenals and thyroid are having
serious trouble. He said it could be that I have a thyroid infection,
autoimmune thyroid disease, or underlying adrenal insufficiency or
disease. Then he left the room to call the endocrinologist to get me in
for an appt. Tish interjected with "today!" and he said "well maybe not
today but as soon as we can" and Tish repeated firmly, "Today." He said
"I will try my best" and Tish simply responded more firmly, in a mom
voice "TODAY." I love that she stands up for me when I'm too tired, but
she'd never dream of it when I'm well enough.

When he returned his first words were sheepish, "well it's not today"
and Tish took a breath like she was about to start saying something, and
he quickly said "because he wants blood work done first so that it's
ready by the time you get there. So it will be Friday. He's making a
spot on his schedule, and will call you with the time he can make
available. I'll give you a note for work, and we'll go from there." He
let us know that this endo is the one he'd go to or send his wife to if
they had the same stuff going on. He feels he's the best. I've hear his
name before as being good, so that's a good sign.

He also made it clear that if the upper left quadrant pain does not
subside (he did not feel a mass) and doesn't end up being related per
the endo, then I should come back in to see him after I see the endo and
we'll do an ultrasound and see what's there, if anything.

Tish and I decided we both like him, a lot. Tish is even going to go see
him, and she hasn't seen a doctor in about 10 years!

So there we are. I've got the appt tomorrow (well, today, but I'm up in
the middle of the night with my usual one to two hours of insomnia in
the middle) and I'm hoping for more answers at that time. By the blood
tests he ordered, it appears he's looking for signs of adrenal issues.
Mild Adult Onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is one of the
possibilities.

fun fun fun :)

Will update probably Saturday, as we have post-TG TG at my parents'
house tomorrow after the Dr.

Aim